The bear canister: an essential piece of Pacific Crest Trail equipment that reminds thru-hikers of what they're truly afraid of out in the wilderness - being torn to pieces by a ravenous bear in the middle of their night (but we all there know there's scarier things than bears out there). If you're
Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts (5″) Review
The Patagonia Strider Pro Shorts are a lightweight pair of polyester shorts with a built-in liner, 5 in / 12.7 cm inseam, four stretchy side pockets, and one back zippered pocket. It took me a long time to finally convert to a pair of shorts with a liner, but now that I've made the switch, I
MSR PocketRocket 2 Review
The MSR PocketRocket 2 is a 2.6 oz / 74 g, backpacking canister stove with three foldable pot supports and an adjustable flame. It's lightweight, compact, and compatible with isobutane-propane fuel canisters (the most common kind of fuel canisters). You'll have to bring your own pot to the party
SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger Review
The SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger is a satellite messenger (not a personal locator beacon, PLB) intended for tracking, communication, and calling emergency services. It weighs 4 oz / 114g (this includes the required 4 AAA batteries) and uses GEOS satellite technology (more on this below). SPOT
Voormi River Run Hoodie Review
The Voormi River Run Hoodie is a long-sleeve, lightweight wool blend hoodie with thumb loops, a relaxed fit, and a 30 UPF rating. It's great for shielding you from the sun whilst enjoying and frolicking in the outdoors. Based in Colorado (but expanding into Montana), Voormi makes a wide selection
Western Mountaineering UltraLite Sleeping Bag Review
The Western Mountaineering UltraLite is an 850-fill down, 20°F / -6.67°C, three-season, mummy sleeping bag weighing 29 oz / 936 g. Western Mountaineering has a reputation for being conservative in their bag ratings (meaning that you can trust a 20°F / -6.67°C bag to be a 20°F / -6.67°C bag), and the
Sawyer Micro Squeeze Water Filter Review
The Sawyer Micro Squeeze is a 2 oz / 57 g hollow-fiber membrane water filter that removes bacteria and protozoa from water. It's a common choice of water treatment for hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail and is worth considering for shorter backpacking trips as well
BearVault BV450 Bear Resistant Food Canister Review
The BearVault BV450 is a polycarbonate (plastic), 7.2-liter, bear-resistant food canister (i.e. a bear canister or bear can) weighing 33 oz / 936 kg. It's approved for use to ward off both black bears and grizzly bears, and it is approved for use (mostly) everywhere you are required to have a bear
BearVault BV500 Bear Resistant Food Canister Review
The BearVault BV500 is a polycarbonate (plastic), 11.5-liter, bear-resistant food canister (i.e. a bear canister or bear can) weighing 2 lbs 9 oz / 1.162 kg. It's approved for use to ward off both black bears and grizzly bears, and it is approved for use everywhere you are required to have a bear